Latin America countries continue to suffer serious effects from the novel coronavirus with political tension and criticism for some leaders whose handling of the situation has been viewed as disorganized and lacking in implementation.
Court Orders Protection for Brazil's Indigenous People
Many news reports over the past two months reveal the difficulties indigenous tribes in Brazil have experienced since the coronavirus outbreak.
On Wednesday Brazil's Supreme Court ordered President Jair Bolsonaro's administration to establish better measures to protect the country's indigenous peoples because of rising infections and deaths in these groups.
Among the measures mentioned in the ruling is the establishment of sanitary barriers in border lands occupied by indigenous tribes. The Bolsonaro government has been given 30 days to develop a plan for indigenous protection.
There are increasing calls for added indigenous protections after the country recorded at least 22,325 confirmed COVID-19 infections among more than 800,000 indigenous people in the country.
Health analysts said earlier during the outbreak that the novel coronavirus could wipe out indigenous communities because they do not have proper access to healthcare facilities and supplies.
Brazil Inches Closer to 100,000 Deaths
Also Wednesday Brazil logged 1,437 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, bringing the national fatality toll to 97,256.
There were 57,152 new confirmed coronavirus cases, an increase in daily new infections in the country following a few days of apparent decline. The infection toll now stands at 2,859,073.
Brazil remains the second hardest-hit country in the world and the worst-hit in all of Latin America.
Mexico Death Toll Almost at 50,000
Mexico, another hard-hit country in Latin America, is nearing 50,000 fatalities linked to the novel coronavirus. The death toll now stands at 49,698.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced that every day at noon a minute of silence would be observed for COVID-19 victims. The order is expected to take place at armed forces bases and government institutions.
Colombia's Former President Reportedly Tests Positive
A day after the Colombian Supreme Court ordered former President Álvaro Uribe to be placed under house arrest reports said the former leader had tested positive for COVID-19.
A court investigation into Uribe's potential involvement in a bribery scheme continues. The case involves paramilitary death squads that Uribe said he had no role in.
Peru Passes 20,000 Deaths
Peru's Health Ministry on Wednesday announced that the national fatality toll had reached 20,228.
There were 7,734 new coronavirus cases Wednesday. The national infection toll has reached 447,624.
The government has started allowing Venezuelan health workers who had left the country to return and join the health task force in preventing further infections.
Health experts are concerned hospitals in the country are overwhelmed by the increasing number of hospitalizations.
